Chapter 71

“I don’t like your tone, and I won’t accept this little attitude,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him. “Your mother and I are together now.” 
His green eyes widen for a moment, looking afraid. “What? No! I don’t want!” 
“Az, this is between me and your mom. It’s not up to you.” 
“I don’t want you two together! You can’t! No!” 
“Calm down, Az, or you will end up shifting! We’re together. Your mom is happy, and you can’t stop it.” 
The little boy snaps, raising his index finger in my direction, “Is that so?” Az asks with fury in his green eyes. “We’ll see.” His lips pressed in a thin line changes to a grin. “Who do you think my mom will choose? You? Or me? I like you, Ethan, but not with my mom!”
Oh, fuck me. Now that I accept having something with Little Dove, her son decides to be a pain in my ass.
‘The little boy has some nerves!’ Kral muses in my head as I watch the way the boy’s little jaw is clenched. 
“Azrael!” I run a hand over my face. *What the hell can I say? That he’s being a child? Well, he kind of is one!*
“Mom doesn’t belong to you!” He hisses at me. “She’s not your fated mate. You don’t even have one!” 
I take a deep breath, trying not to lose my temper before answering him. But, thank Goddess, I feel Alicent approaching. 
“Az? What are you doing here?” Little Dove asks, carrying a tray with two sandwiches and two glasses of orange juice in her hands. “Why are you so agitated? Are you okay? What happened?” Her eyes dart worriedly from me to him as she walks towards us. As soon as she’s close to me, I take the tray from her hands.
“Mom, Ethan told me you guys are... together now.” He shivers dramatically. “That can't be right, right?” Az asks. Although his expression softens as he looks at his mom, he still has a bite in his tone.
“Azrael!” I scold. “Don’t you talk to your mother like that.”
Little Dove glances at her son, then back at me with a surprised expression. She shifts back to him. “Az, I was going to talk to you about this *later*.” She quickly glances my way before going on, “But yes, Ethan and I are together now, just as are your dad and Chelsea.” I notice she doesn’t mention we’re getting married. Maybe it’s for the best. If his reaction says something, it’s that he doesn’t need to know right now.
“What? No!” The boy takes a step back, his eyes showing how devastated he is. “Dad is right!” He shakes his head slightly. “I never thought you’d fall for his lies.” He points in my direction. “Dad told me that this has always been Ethan’s plan since we moved here. Dad said it would happen soon!” The tip of his chin trembles a little. My teeth clench tightly together. That fucker!
“That isn’t true, Az.” Little Dove says firmly. She reaches out to him and holds his hand. I try to speak, but she doesn’t let me. I’m sure that, like me, Azrael also notices how her aura shines brightly with sincerity and authority. “Ethan’s help goes far beyond what your dad realizes. Ethan is protecting and helping us in ways you can’t imagine.” Az gazes at me with worry, but a firm nod of reassurance from me redirected his eyes to hers. “And you don’t need to know anything about that because you’re too little to understand. It’s my job to worry about it.” Little Dove’s hands reach up and hold Az’s shoulders. “Do you trust me?”
With his shoulders slumped in defeat, he nods. “I will always trust you, Mom. Always.”
She smiles sweetly, and I find myself nearly smiling too; it’s just that contagious. “So trust me with that, okay? I’m your mom, and I’ll never lie to you, buddy.” I feel the mini Alpha calm down in the comforting presence of his mom. Az takes a deep breath and hugs her, even though he is visibly upset with the situation.
“I’m hungry... these sandwiches look good,” he says, still hugging her, looking straight at me.
This little shit!
She giggles and grabs his hand. Then, the three of us enter my bedroom, and as soon as I place the tray on the table near the window, he sits in one of the chairs and grabs one of the sandwiches. I imagine it took a lot of effort for him not to shift today. He must have spent a lot of energy. 
He stares at me, eyebrows scrunched together in an adorable way. Azrael must have learned that look from his mom. “If that’s so, I’d like to know your intentions with my mother.” 
“Oh, good Lord.” Little Dove throws her delicate arms up in the air. “This isn’t the eighteenth century, Az! You can’t just ask Ethan’s intentions,” she says with an adorable smile.
“Hey! I’m looking out for you, Mom,” He says between bites. “I want to make sure you don’t get hurt.” Az gives his mom a calm look.
I almost open a grin. Sometimes, this kid can be so sweet and responsible.  
She giggles and I sit in the other chair before pulling her to sit on my lap. I grab the other sandwich and place it in her hand, a silent command for her to eat.
“You don’t have to worry about me, buddy. Ethan’s intentions are to protect and keep us safe.”
“Yeah?” He asks, looking straight at me. “And what happens when we leave here? Or when he finds a mate?”
I tense, and before I answer, Little Dove replies, “A mate? What do you mean?”
‘Isn’t it so nice when someone questions your integrity, is it?’ my wolf mocks, clearly enjoying this.
I squeeze her little waist with my arm. “Easy, Little Dove. I’ve got this.” I narrow my eyes at her son. “I care greatly about your mother, Az. I think she’s amazing, beautiful inside and out, funny, and kind. And she’s right. My intention is to protect both of you.”
The boy clenches his jaw, looking upset. When I look at Little Dove, she gives me a shocked look. “You think all that about me?”
“Yes.” 
She opens a bright smile. Az shoots us a worried look, and I sigh. 
“Well, all right then. Mom is a catch—”
“Azrael!”
“Mom, I’m looking out for you! And I’m right. If you hurt her...”
“I’d never,” I say coldly, looking at his green eyes, darker than his mom’s. “I’d protect you and her with my life.”
She mutters how much it doesn’t seem like her son is just a child and that God needs to help her when he becomes a teenager. “Good Lord! This is getting embarrassing. You sound so much like C and Ollie.” She blurts out.
“Who?” Az asks, confused.
She clears her throat. Didn’t she ever tell Az about her brothers or her family? I thought he at least knew her brothers’ names. “Anyway... I know this caught you off guard.” Little Dove sighs. “I’m sorry, buddy. You’re right. And I’m really lucky to have you looking out for me.” She smiles again, and her son’s face lits up. 
Little Dove’s lips twitch when he says, “Okay, I’ll allow you two. You can keep him, Mom.” Then, he turns to me. “But I’ll keep an eye on you!” Az says with as much authority as a pre-teen mini Alpha can muster, pointing his index finger at me.
I feel Little Dove’s body relax. Despite the boy’s antics, him saying it’s okay to see me with his mom dissipates the remnants of the tension between my shoulders as well.
“Now, go to our room and brush your teeth because it’s past your bedtime, little mister!”
“Fine! Fine!” he says, sighing loudly. When he’s near the door, he says without looking back, “I’ll be waiting for you. Okay?”
When he closes the door, we both laugh out loud. “I’m sorry about him,” she says with a giggle. “I never imagined Az would be so protective, like...”
“Your brothers?”
“Yeah...”
“You didn’t tell him about your family?” I ask, running a hand through her soft hair.
“Well, all he knows is that they died before he was born and that I had two brothers,” she says, looking down at her lap. “He doesn’t know their names, though. It’s always been too painful for me to mention them. You were the first person to know about what happened to them.”
I hold the tip of her chin, forcing her to look at me. “You can talk about them with me whenever you want.” She blinks several times. “I mean it.”
Little Dove nods. Then she clears her throat. “I’ve never had anyone to stand up for me since they died.” 
She leans in closer, and the new proximity has me fisting my hands to avoid throwing her into my bed again. But then she wraps her arms around my neck, pressing her cheek against mine, and I go as stiff as a board. “You can hug me back, Ethan,” she whispers close to my ear with a chuckle as if she knows that I’m not used to hugs. Hell, I’m not used to hugs. I’m numb, and I don’t feel anything anyway.
Still, I place my arms around her, holding her to me. I’m not sure I want to let her go to her bedroom. “I can’t even remember the last time I hugged someone that isn’t my sister,” I admit, relishing how perfectly she fit against me. An inexplicable desire to stay like this washes over me. All my usual physical contact with other females has been either of a sexual nature or non-existent. 
Nothing soft and innocent like this. 

🐺 🐺 🐺

I sit on the huge couch the next day just after sunset. I had a lot of things to get done today, I almost considered going to Summerville, but since Vi is still there, she helped me with some arrangements.
Exhaling, I suppress my smile as I start to sense her sweet scent getting closer. Not that I need her scent to know she’s coming, Little Dove is a bit clumsy, she bumps into at least three corners of furniture before she reaches her destination in a room.
‘Poor human, she’s so fragile. We should warn her that she’s not allowed to hurt herself!’ Kral growls. ‘Forbid her from doing this too!’
When she reaches me, she slides up the couch, sits right next to me, and swings one of her legs over my left thigh. I sit frozen and arch an eyebrow as she lifts my arm, with my help of course, and drapes it over her delicate shoulder with a small cute yawn, and then she leans against me. 
‘I didn’t know you cared that much about her,’ I tease my wolf.
‘Oh, fuck you! Like you aren’t enjoying where you’re sitting right now!’ Kral snarls back.
“How was work today?” This little moment feels so utterly different from anything I’ve ever done with any other female that I catch myself whispering as I ask. Maybe I’m just afraid that fate will hear me having a moment that is precious instead of bad and wanting to get in the way.
“Great... Have you told anyone we’re getting married?”
My lips quirk when Little Dove asks me in a whisper as well. This feels oddly good. This feels so intimate that it makes my stomach hollow. Something strange builds in my chest. 
I glance at the ceiling and close my eyes before answering her. “Yes. I told Josh and Vi. I think it’s best if we keep this private. For now.” 
“You... You don’t want to be seen with me?” Her voice is pained. 
“No. It’s not that at all. I don’t mind people knowing we’re together. But they don’t need to know we’re getting married. Around here, uh... Never mind. Well, Josh is my best friend, and he’s second in command at Blackmoon, so he obviously needs to know. So does Vi. I tell my sister everything.” 
“Hmm, okay then. So when do... when do you want to get married?”
“If we do this, we do it now. We have no time to waste.” 
“Now?” she asks, pulling her face away from me and looking up at me.
I chuckle. “Relax, Little Dove. Don’t worry. We can get married in a month. See? I can be flexible.” I don’t point out to her that I’ve already called my contact and pretty much had her name removed from the system. She’d probably have more questions about this than I care to answer.
She lets out a cute groan. 
Before she can say anything, I ask, “Are you going to tell Vi about your past?”
I told my sister that I would tell her my reasons for my sudden marriage when she was here in person.
“I was thinking... Yeah. I guess so. I had this connection with Vi since the first time I saw her,” she says with a sweet smile. “We kind of hit it off right away. And after I talked to you...” She pauses, and I look in her direction. After clearing her throat, she continues, “After I told you about my family, I kind of felt lighter, you know? Not that I want to go around screaming from the rooftops about my past, but I trust Vi,” she confesses. “I think if it were the other way around, she would tell me too.”
Fuck. My smile drops. If she ever finds out about our world, she will be so fucking devastated!
“Az and Lily are getting closer,” I say to change the subject.
“How do you know?” She looks at the various entrances to the large living room. “Wow! You have super hearing!” she says seconds before they come babbling loudly. “Did you do all your homework?”
“Yeah,” Lily answers for both of them. She looks at me with a huge smile. “Uncle Ethan, you’ve been grinning wide all day. Your eyes have this twinkling thing!” My little niece circles her eyes as she speaks.
My eyebrows raise. I steal a glance at Little Dove. Her cheeks are flushed. “Hmm, well, that’s because I’ve been spending more time at home with you lately, baby girl.”
Lily looks at me and Alicent, still sitting next to each other. “Uh-huh. Let’s go Az, he’s in a good mood, let’s not change that.”
Little Dove giggles as Az follows my nice hand in hand. He’s quiet about hating me now, but he’s not exactly thrilled celebrating my relationship with his mom.
“Did you tell your ex-husband?” I bite my tongue to keep from calling the fucker an asshole.
Suddenly, her old purple phone starts to ring. As she raises it, the name of the person calling makes Little Dove widen her eyes. “Well, speaking of which! I’ll take it outside,” she says, and I nod with my jaw clenched, realizing that that precious moment had just ended.

🐺 🐺 🐺
***Alicent***

Taking a deep breath, I answer my ex. “Hello? Logan?” 
“Hey, Allie. I’m calling to let you know that you should cancel your credit cards and order new ones, I, uh, lost them.”
“Logan! Ugh! How did you lose my credit cards?”
“Tell them you got mugged, I don’t know.”
“You got mugged? Oh, God, are you okay?”
“For God’s sake, Allie. I didn’t get mugged. It’s just an excuse for you to give when you ask for new credit cards, damn it.”
I take another deep breath. Calm down, Allie. What you’re going to ask him for is going to be much worse. “Listen, Logan, I wanted to tell you something too.”
“What’s wrong? I’ll pay you back, Allie. Don’t worry.”
“It’s not that.” I wish it was. It would be much simpler. “I’ve been trying to get ahold of you, but you haven’t been answering my calls or my messages... I’ve been worried.” 
“Whoa, Allie, chill. I talked to you just yesterday. You’re so needy. I’m fine. And I’m going to marry Chelsea. I’m not living with you anymore. You can’t have me every day.” 
Grr. I roll my eyes. “Logan, I have something to tell you.” I clear my throat.